~Meaning of Rameshwara, Hanuman, Shiva and Rama~

Rama established a ‘Shiva-linga’ at the southern tip of India before embarking on the war with the demon king Ravan. He prayed to Lord Shiva for his success in the war. ‘In praise of Lord Shiva, this place will be known as Rameshwara’, Rama said to all the monkeys and bears watching the proceedings.

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Hanuman requested Rama to describe the meaning of Rameshwara.

‘Ramasya Iswara--Rama’s Lord is Rameshwara. My Lord is Shiva. So Rameshawar stands for Lord Shiva. This is the sixth 'tat-purusha' compounding (samaasa) in Samskrit,’ Rama explained.

Lord Shiva meditating at Kailash Mountain opened his eyes and smiled at the ingenuity of Rama in twisting the meaning. Parvati was confused and asked Lord Shiva the actual meaning of Rameshwara.

Shiva prays to Rama as his Lord. It is a mutual appreciation society. What do the common people understand? Common people didn’t know anything about the intricate structure of Samskrit language and the compounding of words.

They found it difficult to accept both the compounding. They turned to Gita to find the best form of compounding of words. Lord Krishna had declared himself to be the “dwanda” among compounding implying that it is the best. Hence common people took the meaning of Rameshwara as ‘Rama ca Ishwara ca–both Rama and Shiva.’

What does Rama mean ? ‘Ramate Yoginaam hrdaye ya: one who plays in the hearts of Yogis.’

What does Hanuman mean? ‘Hanti maanam:--One whose ego (or pride) has been transcended or who destroys the ego (pride) of others.

What does Shiva mean? Shiva is the good omen (mangal-maya) although he may be in ‘amangala-maya-rupa’.

Onc- e Parvati asked for an easy way (kena upaayena laghunaa) in which the effect of chanting the entire Vishnu Sahasra Nama can be realized. Shiva recommended the repetition of the name of Rama. Saying Rama once is equivalent to chanting of one thousand names of Vishnu.

II Raama Raameti Raameti rame Raame manorame I

Sahasra-naama tat-tulyam Raama nama varaanane II

‘Oh! Pretty face. My mind is always happily chanting the beautiful name of Rama. Chanting the name of Rama once is equivalent to the chant of one thousands names of Vishnu,’ Shiva told Parvati.